Tell me why I shouldn't be scared of dying on the road ...
#176
Senior Member
Don't be too scared to ride if you want to. I think people tend to focus too much on the risk of cycling on public roads and downplay the risk of driving on them. They're just dangerous places, no matter how you choose to utilize them. So acknowledge the risk, accept it (if you wish) and get on with your life. Life is dangerous and then you die.
#177
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You're assuming "same situation" when there's a whole class of roads that bicyclists can't even go on. The speeds on restricted roads are, on average, much higher than bicyclists are likely ever to face. That complicates your physics issues big time.
Also, I suspect the odds of being killed in a single-vehicle accident are much higher for motor vehicles than bikes.
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#178
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Sometimes I do too. (tldr) Other times I'll quickly find and read the "new" unquoted thoughts in the post to see what he's writing about. Either way, it's hardly difficult to deal with.
But, if he's quoted me, I'll almost always read the entire post, just because I'm curious to see where I fit in his virtual conversation.
I find a variety of posting styles makes things more interesting, even if I skip reading some of them.
But, if he's quoted me, I'll almost always read the entire post, just because I'm curious to see where I fit in his virtual conversation.
I find a variety of posting styles makes things more interesting, even if I skip reading some of them.
#179
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Without crunching numbers, I think this is likely terrible advice. If you have to cross the street to get to the sidewalk "going the other way", you must have at least negated any minuscule gain in safety you could gain by having a little more notice of the highly unlikely event of the car coming careening down the sidewalk.
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#180
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The effort to find all the quotes must be exhausting, especially since i dont see anyone appreciating it. To each their own, I guess.
#181
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Ha, that would be hilarious to watch from afar. Everyone else in the group would be furious because one guy keeps citing that he once made a comment related to the current topic and then he would say that comment, after which everyone would just stare at the guy and continue the conversation. Good entertainment right there!
The effort to find all the quotes must be exhausting, especially since i dont see anyone appreciating it. To each their own, I guess.
The effort to find all the quotes must be exhausting, especially since i dont see anyone appreciating it. To each their own, I guess.
#182
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Regarding the OP's original post, yeah, it's a legit concern. We all justify it however we need to in order to keep doing what we enjoy. But we'd have to be lying at least subconsciously to say we don't worry about being hit by a motor vehicle if we've ever been hit before. I've been struck several times over the decades (Washington DC and surroundings in the 1970s was the worst). Most recently was last year and I'm still recovering.
But I still ride.
I worry, sure. But it's expressed more in how I ride, how alert I am, etc. I'm cautious. I choose my routes and times carefully.
Before every ride I go through a sort of checklist/mantra while suiting up. It's like the scene in Pulp Fiction with Jules and Vincent, before they visit the apartment to collect the briefcase for Marsellus. After BSing about foot massages and throwing people out windows, Jules says "Let's get into character."
So, find your character, write your script, rehearse, and you'll be better ready for the road. But be ready to improvise because some drivers aren't on the same page.
But I still ride.
I worry, sure. But it's expressed more in how I ride, how alert I am, etc. I'm cautious. I choose my routes and times carefully.
Before every ride I go through a sort of checklist/mantra while suiting up. It's like the scene in Pulp Fiction with Jules and Vincent, before they visit the apartment to collect the briefcase for Marsellus. After BSing about foot massages and throwing people out windows, Jules says "Let's get into character."
So, find your character, write your script, rehearse, and you'll be better ready for the road. But be ready to improvise because some drivers aren't on the same page.
#183
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And ever visit a big city with one-way streets? Don't come to Philly. You wouldn't be able to walk many places if you would be too scared to walk with your back facing traffic. I guess it's a miracle that countless people in a city of about 1.5 million are not killed every day doing so. Or do you have another explanation for that fact?
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#184
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While I'm not a big fan of the quoting style, I am generally a Jim from Lower Salem fan. He knows more about bicycling in a major metropolitan area than most of the people criticizing him, and he's a lot better-natured than I am. I've learned quite a bit from Jim from East Waltham, and find it fun to discuss differences of opinions with him.
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#185
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Riding where he does every day, I can see how that might make sense--absurd number of irregular intersections where you really do need to see in several directions at once.
#186
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That might be, except that the motor vehicle occupant is far more likely to be in a vehicle going 60 or so mph when struck by another vehicle doing similar speed.
You're assuming "same situation" when there's a whole class of roads that bicyclists can't even go on. The speeds on restricted roads are, on average, much higher than bicyclists are likely ever to face. That complicates your physics issues big time.
Also, I suspect the odds of being killed in a single-vehicle accident are much higher for motor vehicles than bikes.
You're assuming "same situation" when there's a whole class of roads that bicyclists can't even go on. The speeds on restricted roads are, on average, much higher than bicyclists are likely ever to face. That complicates your physics issues big time.
Also, I suspect the odds of being killed in a single-vehicle accident are much higher for motor vehicles than bikes.
#187
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The subject of the thread is not single vehicle accidents. It's the risks of riding a bicycle on streets with motor vehicles. If you do not understand that your chances of serious injury, or death, are significantly greater if you are on a bicycle, versus being in another motor vehicle, then maybe you will be interested in a bridge I have for sale?
On a per hour basis (as opposed to per mile) driving is more likely to result in death.
There's about 840 people killed bicycling in the U.S. There's millions of people in the U.S. bicycling every year. My odds of getting through another year are pretty damn good. It isn't as deadly as some make it out to be.
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#188
Senior Member
The subject of the thread is not single vehicle accidents. It's the risks of riding a bicycle on streets with motor vehicles. If you do not understand that your chances of serious injury, or death, are significantly greater if you are on a bicycle, versus being in another motor vehicle, then maybe you will be interested in a bridge I have for sale?
A bicycle on road without any cars has about a zero risk of dying in a collision.
Whereas it's quite common for a driver to have a self-collision and die (and take his passengers with him) with no other vehicle on the road.
However, it's common to convince the cyclist not to cycle because bad driving has become the acceptable norm and society doesn't really want to make any changes to it.
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#189
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Well, I almost did it once, but it involved an improperly graded manhole at the bottom of a San Francisco hill. Still come out with only minor injuries, but I was just damn lucky.
#191
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Wheras dying in a self-collision in a car is much more common. Drivers smash into buildings and flip-over guard railings in the early morning of weekends when the streets are empty.
Last edited by Daniel4; 08-06-19 at 07:43 PM.
#192
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#193
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you quoted me, but i cant figure out why
what concern does my post bring up?
what concern does my post bring up?
i don't know why jim from boston quoted me either...
Sometimes i think this is either a bot or a shill with the purpose of generating memberships so real readers can ignore this poster. The long non sequiturs are a hassle to scroll past.
Sometimes i think this is either a bot or a shill with the purpose of generating memberships so real readers can ignore this poster. The long non sequiturs are a hassle to scroll past.
i scroll past jfb's musings. If you are reading this, quoting me is a waste of time.
i usually just skip jim’s posts. I’m sure he means well but i find the jumbled quotes with multiple levels of emphasis distracting.
I can’t imagine having a discussion in a coffee shop or bar where someone continuously repeats snippets of other conversations.
I can’t imagine having a discussion in a coffee shop or bar where someone continuously repeats snippets of other conversations.
this.
You have to assume that he is just projecting his own difficulties in following a thought/thread.
You have to assume that he is just projecting his own difficulties in following a thought/thread.
…If jfb wants to create imaginary, fabricated conversations, thats his business.
I just scroll past them, as i find them utterly incomprehensible.
But he should own them as his own imaginary conversation. Splicing to gather unrelated quotes from real posters to create the impression of a conversation that never actually happened is not cool, IMO.
I just scroll past them, as i find them utterly incomprehensible.
But he should own them as his own imaginary conversation. Splicing to gather unrelated quotes from real posters to create the impression of a conversation that never actually happened is not cool, IMO.
Last edited by Jim from Boston; 08-07-19 at 04:28 AM.
#194
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ɅɅɅɅ (with apologies to the OP and rest of the thread)
Furthermore, I have documented to the reader that the topic at hand has been considered before, and the thread containing that quote, with the link, may be a source of further information.
Kind of like my posts.
Thanks for those comments @AlmostTrick and @livedarklions. I have quoted you both in several of my 6700+ posts over the past 10 years.
So in reciprocation, if no one responds to my posts as noted above, I’ll know they didn’t read it, in the manner of
or disavow my post. FWIW.
… Everyone else in the group would be furious because one guy keeps citing that he once made a comment related to the current topic and then he would say that comment, after which everyone would just stare at the guy and continue the conversation. Good entertainment right there!
The effort to find all the quotes must be exhausting, especially since i dont see anyone appreciating it. To each their own, I guess.
The effort to find all the quotes must be exhausting, especially since i dont see anyone appreciating it. To each their own, I guess.
…JFB follows his own set of writing standards and rules. He is perfectly aware of the annoyance caused by his infinite mirror quotes.
… a bit harsh. There's room here for everyone.
…By nesting quote boxes, I indicate to the quoted subscriber(s) that I have
read the post(s), reflected on the content,
and extracted meaningful point(s) that I worked into a [contrived] quote chain.The quote chain allows me to quote a few subscribers [and/or myself] on one topic in one post…
read the post(s), reflected on the content,
and extracted meaningful point(s) that I worked into a [contrived] quote chain.The quote chain allows me to quote a few subscribers [and/or myself] on one topic in one post…
Sometimes I do too. (tldr) Other times I'll quickly find and read the "new" unquoted thoughts in the post to see what he's writing about. Either way, it's hardly difficult to deal with.
But, if he's quoted me, I'll almost always read the entire post, just because I'm curious to see where I fit in his virtual conversation.
I find a variety of posting styles makes things more interesting, even if I skip reading some of them.
But, if he's quoted me, I'll almost always read the entire post, just because I'm curious to see where I fit in his virtual conversation.
I find a variety of posting styles makes things more interesting, even if I skip reading some of them.
While I'm not a big fan of the quoting style, I am generally a Jim from Lower Salem fan. He knows more about bicycling in a major metropolitan area than most of the people criticizing him, and he's a lot better-natured than I am.
I've learned quite a bit from Jim from East Waltham, and find it fun to discuss differences of opinions with him
I've learned quite a bit from Jim from East Waltham, and find it fun to discuss differences of opinions with him
Right. Besides, anyone who wears two helmet mirrors, (one on each side) is a not only a safety fanatic but obviously proud to ignore the fashion rules. Both A-OK in my book!
Thanks for those comments @AlmostTrick and @livedarklions. I have quoted you both in several of my 6700+ posts over the past 10 years.
I have been an avid cyclist, as a lifestyle since about 1972...I happened serendipitously on Bike Forums in 2008, and it was frankly incredible to find a community that shared so many concerns I had kept to myself as a lone cyclist.
This enthusiasm has definitely increased my enjoyment of cycling. As far as improving it, what I have gotten directly from BF [include]…the opportunity to post and literally "journal" my thoughts and activities about cycling and lifestyle (even if nobody else reads them), but which I wouldn't write down otherwise...
This enthusiasm has definitely increased my enjoyment of cycling. As far as improving it, what I have gotten directly from BF [include]…the opportunity to post and literally "journal" my thoughts and activities about cycling and lifestyle (even if nobody else reads them), but which I wouldn't write down otherwise...
First of all you [not referring JfB] have no need to apologize for a lengthy post, least of all to me of all people.
Part of the reason I like forums as opposed to other forms of written communal internet forms is because I consider it the "long deep conversation format" rather than the quick short snappy sound bite like format like twitter and such.
Part of the reason I like forums as opposed to other forms of written communal internet forms is because I consider it the "long deep conversation format" rather than the quick short snappy sound bite like format like twitter and such.
Originally Posted by Jim from Boston
(from a now-closed thread) I think that the use of quote boxes, which I have not seen elsewhere is a remarkable way to graphically diagram a dialogue.
...I like to make my posts self-explanatory, as if someone reading from the last post in a thread forward could understand the context of my post, so I include quotes expressing the entire “conversation.”
Often for reference I'll even include the title of the thread itself.
Often for reference I'll even include the title of the thread itself.
Originally Posted by Jimmy Buffet
If the phone doesn't ring
You'll know that it's me.
You'll know that it's me.
Last edited by Jim from Boston; 08-07-19 at 12:57 PM.
#195
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Your earlier post just asserts that the opposite is true, but I also have looked into it, and the per mile figure favors cars because the fatal accidents are more likely to occur at high speed (highways), while the per hour figure favors bicyclists.
Regardless of how you figure it, though, 850 deaths or so per year spread out over the entire US is going to be a low probability figure unless there's a lot fewer cyclists than it would appear. Now if you have figures on where those deaths are clustered, then we might be able to talk about if there are places where it is high probability.
Regardless of how you figure it, though, 850 deaths or so per year spread out over the entire US is going to be a low probability figure unless there's a lot fewer cyclists than it would appear. Now if you have figures on where those deaths are clustered, then we might be able to talk about if there are places where it is high probability.
#196
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That's why I stated "about a zero risk" instead of outrightly stating "zero risk". It's rare but still possible.
Wheras dying in a self-collision in a car is much more common. Drivers smash into buildings and flip-over guard railings in the early morning of weekends when the streets are empty.
Wheras dying in a self-collision in a car is much more common. Drivers smash into buildings and flip-over guard railings in the early morning of weekends when the streets are empty.
#197
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I had no idea that New Albany and Westerville were near the Louisissippi Coast. Seriously though, the writer might have a phobia he might want to deal with, maybe not.
#199
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#200
Full Member
I've had this dream a few times; not enough to call it a recurring dream but more than a few times. A huge truck comes form behind and I have no place to go. I always wake up just before I die form having my head crushed. I've had mirrors snapped off by cars passing too closely at high speeds. It's a crap shoot.